Chinese medicine 'aids diabetics'

A traditional Chinese medicine may be beneficial for people suffering
from type 2 diabetes.
Berberine, found in the roots and barks of some plants, has been
documented in Chinese literature as being able to lower glucose levels
in diabetics.

Now scientists have found that studies on rodents support this claim.

Writing in the journal Diabetes, they added that berberine reduced the
animals' body weight, suggesting it could also be used to treat
obesity.

We have now obtained scientific evidence that shows berberine helps
insulin to work much better
Professor James, Garvan Institute

Berberine is a compound found in several plants, including goldenseal,
the Oregon grape and barberry.

It has been used by a number of different cultures for medicinal
purposes, most commonly to treat diarrhoea.

It is also being employed, particularly in traditional Chinese
medicine, to treat diabetes.

To investigate its reported glucose-lowering effects, an international
team examined the effect of berberine on mice and rats.

The researchers found that a dose of the compound, given orally, caused
blood sugar levels to go down, led to fewer fats circulating in the
bloodstream, made insulin work better and lowered the animals' body
weights.

Potential therapy

Professor David James, head of the diabetes and obesity research
programme at the Garvan Institute, Sydney, Australia, said: "We are
interested in type 2 diabetes, which is caused by a malfunctioning of
insulin action, causing blood sugar regulation to go haywire.

"We have now obtained scientific evidence that shows berberine helps
insulin to work much better.

"It helps insulin to control blood sugar. But it also helps to clear
fats out of the bloodstream, and we think that this leads to one of its
other major end points, which is reduction of body weight."

The team believes the plant product is "turning on" an enzyme found in
body tissue, which improves the body's sensitivity to insulin, in turn
lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the level of circulating fats.

We would not recommend that anyone attempts to use this as a treatment
in its current form
Cathy Moulton, Diabetes UK

Professor James said: "This is a very nice example of how there is
validity to some of these traditional medicines.

"Type 2 diabetes and obesity are a huge problem and, although there are
some nice medicines on the market, they have their limitations and
there is a tremendous need for new therapies.

"This represents a potential new therapy for treatment of diabetes and
obesity."

However, he cautioned that more clinical studies were needed on humans
before berberine should be recommended for diabetics, particularly to
investigate how the compound interacts with other drugs.

Cathy Moulton, a care advisor at Diabetes UK, said: "There are already
many treatments for type 2 diabetes available but this research is
slightly different as it's based on a natural remedy.

"We would not recommend that anyone attempts to use this as a treatment
in its current form as this research only focuses on animals.

"We will wait to see the results of further research with interest."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/5230738.stm

Published: 2006/08/12 23:00:13 GMT

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